Neither Santa nor the shoppers at the Patagonia Art Walk on Saturday were quite as heavy as might have been anticipated, but Mr. Claus and the crowds were all in a jolly mood at this two-day event.

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Many of the vendors agreed that Friday had been much busier. “I had one group from Scottsdale and they made my day,” said Tucsonan Alex Jones. He used to design and paint miniature golf courses, and worked as an illustrator before forming his own company, called Roadside Distractions, to market his cards, mugs and prints. “Oh good, the card guy!” one customer exclaimed as he found Jones’ table in the busy courtyard of the Mesquite Grove Gallery.

Seated comfortably in a corner of Adrienne Halpert’s Global Arts Gallery, Edie Jarolim held her dog Frankie as she sold copies of her book, “Am I Boring My Dog?” Jarolim said that Frankie, whom she has lived with for the past five years, was her first pet, and she wanted to write a book to help other people understand their dogs better.

Jarolim’s appearance was part of Global Arts’ efforts to spotlight the Santa Cruz Humane Society. A representative from the shelter talked about the work being done there, Ten percent of all sales at Global arts during the Art Walk were to be donated to the Humane Society.

Next door at the Artists Cooperative, Amanda Frederick painted at her easel while customers examined prints, photos, jewelry, quilts, dolls, lacework and other craftwork, and chatted with local artists. At Mariposa Books, owner Ann Caston displayed an assortment of books by local authors that showcased the diversity and the literary vitality of this little town.

At Cady Hall the Patagonia Woman’s Club celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with its “Festival of Trees.” The hall was transformed into a forest of decorated trees, some to be raffled off, some to be auctioned and some to be sold outright. “One woman was literally in tears. ‘This is Christmas for me,’ she told us as she looked around,” said Anne Hummel.” In addition to the trees, there were baked goods, a boutique area and the beautiful raffle quilt made by the Crossroads Quilters. Dorothy Dannis, who was minding the quilt on Friday, became a walking advertisement for the Christmas tree raffle as she became dusted with glitter from the little pink tree she sat beneath.

Kay Beran, Blanche Braswell, Bowden’s Choice Fitness, Doris Berry, Charlotte Lash, Cross Creek Cottages, Mesquite Grove Gallery, Duquesne House B&B, Charlee Farley, Naomi Lenon, Metamorphosis Art Gallery, Maureen O’Brien, Proctor Frontier Museum, Ted Schaeffer-Merrill Lynch, Barbara and Bob Smith, Sonoita Realty, SSVEC, Wal-Mart and Caroline and Jack Walsh, all contributed to the success of the Festival of Trees, which raised $4,500 this year. The proceeds from the trees help fund the scholarships that the Patagonia Woman’s Club presents to two graduating seniors at the Patagonia High School. Proceeds from the raffle quilt, which brought in $220 during the Art Walk, will go to the Women’s Crisis Center in Nogales.

The Art Walk was a pleasant way to start the holiday season �“ “It’s a joyous experience,” said Adrienne Halpert, “to have our town filled with people.”

(Editor’s Note: Marion Vendituoli of Sonoita, is a free-lance writer.)